Mallorca - Real Sociedad predictions and free betting tips [06/02/2024]

Today as part of the first semi-final match of Spain's Cup, "Mallorca" will host "Real Sociedad" on their home ground. Last Friday, the hosts were decidedly defeated by "Athletic" in Bilbao with a score of 4:0, and the next day, the white-and-blue played a 0:0 draw against "Girona".

Mallorca

Mallorca, is undoubtedly, the revelation of this season in Spain and deservedly made it to the Copa del Rey semi-final. In the previous round, the "islanders" defeated "Girona" on their home ground with a score of 3:2, after which they suffered two consecutive defeats in the national championship: from "Betis" (0:1) and "Athletic Bilbao" (4:0) last weekend. As a result, the team dropped to the 15th place in the La Liga table, just 4 points ahead of the relegation zone. The Yellow-Oranges are vying for the Copa del Rey trophy for the second time in their history: the previous success was achieved in the 2002-03 campaign when they triumphed with a 3:0 victory over "Recreativo de Huelva" in the final. The "Pirates" also reached the tournament final two more times - in the 1990-91 and 1997-98 seasons, so the motivation for Javier Aguirre's charges is high. 

The hosts have not performed particularly well at home this campaign: they have collected just 13 points in 11 home matches in the championship, scoring 9 goals and conceding the same number. Rayo will be forced to serve a suspension on Tuesday night after being sent off in the last round of the Cup, while Maffeo is still recovering in the infirmary after an injury. As for the rest, an optimal line-up will take to the field: Kyle Larin (4 goals, 1 assist in 4 Cup matches) will lead the "islanders'" attack, and he will be assisted by playmaker Prats (5 goals). Veteran Vedat Muriqi is still recuperating from an injury, so he will likely start the match on the bench, while Omar Mascarell will appear in midfield and will orchestrate attacks from the depth of the field.

Real Sociedad

The future opponent of "PSG" in the Champions League playoffs - "Real Sociedad" - has slowed down a bit this campaign compared with last season when they managed to finish fourth in La Liga. The Basques are still in the top six of the national championship, but they are already 10 points behind "Atletico". Over the weekend, they only managed a draw against "Girona" (0:0), and it was the second consecutive draw with such a result after the duel with "Rayo Vallecano". In the previous Copa del Rey round, the squad led by Ilgwissilas got the better of "Celta Vigo" (1:2), and even earlier they managed to defeat "Bunyol", "Andrax", "Malaga" and "Osasuna", conceding only one goal in the process. The white-and-blues are two-time Copa del Rey winners, in 1987 and 2020. 

Worth noting, the Basques have had more than a decent performance in the Primer on the road: in 12 away games, the visitors have picked up 17 points, scored 14 goals, and only conceded 10. The team's infirmary is overflowing: Munoz (out for the rest of the season), Carlos Fernandez and Martin Markelans are injured, while Japanese forward Kubo (6 goals, 3 assists in La Liga) has only recently returned after being ousted from the Asia Cup. The physical readiness of Tierney, right laterals Odriosola and Hamari Traore remains a question. However, the white-and-blues have high hopes for captain Mikel Oyarzabal (8 goals) and Barrenetxea (3 goals in La Liga), who is back in the main group following a minor injury. Becker, who transferred from Berlin's "Union" this winter, will remain on the bench, and Andre Silva will start in attack.

Head-to-Head

Mallorca hasn't had a win over Real Sociedad since 2012 and lost with a score of 1:0 in the first round of the current Primera Division.

Match prediction: Mallorca - Real Sociedad

Mallorca has proven more than once during this season that they are capable of taking points off any team. The hosts are motivated to make it to the country's Cup final for the first time in two decades, but achieving this will be a daunting task. Real Sociedad has lost too many points in the championship due to a large number of draws, but the Basques have only suffered one defeat in their last 18 games in all competitions. My prediction - an away victory with a 0 handicap.